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Old January 9, 2016   #1
Spike2
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Default Hey Worth!

May I pick your brain? You seem to know a lot about onions. I have grown shallots, leeks and some green onions. I LOVE ONIONS.

Is it better to start from seed or sets or does it matter? What onions do you suggest? I am sure others have info also and I will gladly take any suggestions and helpful hints

/huggles
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Old January 9, 2016   #2
Worth1
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I dont know diddly about onions.
Only what my experience is and what I have read.
From what I have read here it is better to start from seeds but you may be too late for that.
As for what kind I think you can just about get away with anything where you live.
They also have what the call a daylight neutral onion that can supposedly be grown anywhere.
For you as a long daylight sweet onion I would suggest Walla Walla or Sweet Spanish Utah Jumbo.
Candy is a neutral daylight onion.

I wish I could help you more.

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Old January 9, 2016   #3
Spike2
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I know the Amish around here grow a lot of the Candy onions. So I may just have to try the Walla Walla or the Sweet Spanish Utah Jumbo or both . Would it be to late to start the seeds inside? You are plenty of help. Now that my Old Uncles are gone I am floundering a bit so thank you so much!!
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Old January 9, 2016   #4
Worth1
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Originally Posted by Spike2 View Post
I know the Amish around here grow a lot of the Candy onions. So I may just have to try the Walla Walla or the Sweet Spanish Utah Jumbo or both . Would it be to late to start the seeds inside? You are plenty of help. Now that my Old Uncles are gone I am floundering a bit so thank you so much!!
You could give it a try but dont plant too deep my best results were just at the top of the soil.

I would also look for a good red sweet one.

Remember that you dont want to put anything in the soil like sulfur it will make a good sweet onion go hot and strong.
They are also very forgiving when it comes to PH they came grow well in one over 7.
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Old January 9, 2016   #5
salix
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Spike, I think you have lots of time for seed starting. I won't start mine until the end of February and we have a much shorter season than you. Check out the allium postings for lots of advice.
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Old January 9, 2016   #6
Spike2
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Check out the allium postings for lots of advice.
OH DUH!! I saw Worth talking about onions and forgot that forum was there.
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Old January 9, 2016   #7
joseph
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Is it better to start from seed or sets or does it matter? What onions do you suggest? I am sure others have info also and I will gladly take any suggestions and helpful hints
Depends on one's definition of better.

Starting from sets is EXPENSIVE to grow the volumes of onions that I grow. Sets grow fast, and do a great job of getting ahead of the weeds. They produce a larger overall harvest earlier in the season

Starting from seeds is inexpensive, but LABOR INTENSIVE, because the plants are smaller and more fiddly, and more likely to get lost in the weeds. I can start from seeds by either growing transplants in the greenhouse, or by direct seeding in the field. Overall yield is lower and they produce later in the season, but they have a better return on monetary investment.

I grow Egyptian onions from sets, and use them as scallions.

I grow storage onions from seeds.

For NE Ohio, choose a 'long-day' onion.
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Old January 9, 2016   #8
ChiliPeppa
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I'm a beginner when it comes to onions and so when I tried starting from seed it was a PITA with useless results. So I ordered starts from Dixondale farms and actually just planted them out today. Piece of cake. Now lets just see how they grow,
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Old January 9, 2016   #9
Spike2
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I grow Egyptian onions from sets, and use them as scallions.
Egyptian walking onions? I have a mess of those planted!!!

So I could start the seeds inside and transplant them outside?

How do I tell what a "long day onion" is?
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Old January 9, 2016   #10
Worth1
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Egyptian walking onions? I have a mess of those planted!!!

So I could start the seeds inside and transplant them outside?

How do I tell what a "long day onion" is?
You have to go to web sites and look at seeds or plants.
They will tell you most of the time.

Lets take a look.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...yYNx9zSBRxOH_g
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Old January 9, 2016   #11
Gardeneer
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I'm a beginner when it comes to onions and so when I tried starting from seed it was a PITA with useless results. So I ordered starts from Dixondale farms and actually just planted them out today. Piece of cake. Now lets just see how they grow,
Dixondale
There you go. That is the place to order plants/starts. Tell them where you are and they will tell you which ones will be well in your location.

You can always plant any onion to use as scallion.

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Old January 9, 2016   #12
Worth1
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Dixondale
There you go. That is the place to order plants/starts. Tell them where you are and they will tell you which ones will be well in your location.

You can always plant any onion to use as scallion.

Gardeneer

I just did a little research you can get away with short day onions.
Believe it or not.

Here is why.
You live an area with a zone hardiness like mine.
This allows you to plant out onions in soil that is warmer than most people have at your latitude.
Therefore you can take advantage of your daylight hours.
Do you get what I am saying?
There are people in Alaska growing Granex at least that is what I was told.
Worth

Last edited by Worth1; January 9, 2016 at 11:04 PM.
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Old January 9, 2016   #13
Worth1
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Anybody in a long day light area can grow short day onions if they set out at the right time and get the soil temps up it might take a green house.
Worth

Last edited by Worth1; January 9, 2016 at 11:04 PM.
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Old January 10, 2016   #14
AlittleSalt
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If any of you choose to go with onion sets/starts - you might be able to get them pretty cheap locally from a mom and pop shop or an Ag/feed store. We have bought onions this way for $2.50 a bunch/set.

Dixondale sells very cheap to stores but way-too-high for individuals. The Dixondale catalog in my opinion needs to come with a Thank You card, a box of chocolates, some nylons, a FINE meal, and roses. (Wording is much better than what I was thinking)
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Old January 10, 2016   #15
Worth1
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Originally Posted by AlittleSalt View Post
If any of you choose to go with onion sets/starts - you might be able to get them pretty cheap locally from a mom and pop shop or an Ag/feed store. We have bought onions this way for $2.50 a bunch/set.

Dixondale sells very cheap to stores but way-too-high for individuals. The Dixondale catalog in my opinion needs to come with a Thank You card, a box of chocolates, some nylons, a FINE meal, and roses. (Wording is much better than what I was thinking)

Holy cow after you posted this I went and looked.

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